The number of readers in the 'eBooks' segment of the media market worldwide was modeled to amount to ************ users in 2024. Between 2017 and 2024, the number of readers rose by ************** users, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The number of readers will steadily rise by ************** users over the period from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a clear upward trend.Further information about the methodology, more market segments, and metrics can be found on the dedicated Market Insights page on eBooks.

The number of digital books borrowed from libraries and schools hit *** million in 2023. E-books have historically been more popular among digital book borrowers, with *** million borrowed from the ** thousand libraries and schools included in the study in that year.

Estimates show that *** million e-books were sold in the United States in 2020, according to the most recently available data. Precise figures on e-book sales are difficult to gather due to smaller publishers and major retailers such as Amazon being missed from sales data, and other factors such as the varying methodologies sources use to track and measure the market. For example, whilst figures for 2016 and 2017 are lower than the immediately preceding years, it was noted that figures for these years only included around *** publishers. E-books in the U.S. E-book sales revenue in the United States fluctuates, and like unit sales, is prone to readjustments and changes in measurement. The best and most accurate estimates place revenue at over *********** U.S. dollars, the highest recorded so far but only a small improvement from the numbers given for 2017 and 2018. Expenditure on digital book readers also wavers, tending to hover between ** and ** U.S. dollars per year. In 2013, annual spending on e-readers averaged over ** U.S. dollars, but the number has not reached that level again since, suggesting that such devices have already lost ground as consumers instead opt to use their smartphones for on-the-go media consumption. E-book readers Book fans all across the United States read e-books, though data on e-book readers by urbanity shows that consumers in rural parts of the country are less likely to engage with the format than those living in urban and suburban areas. Survey data on print and digital book readership highlights the continued preference for print, with only a small number of consumers exclusively reading digital books. However, growing numbers of book readers favor a combination of print and digital books, which is good news for publishers branching out beyond traditional formats but still wanting to produce printed books.

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E-Book Market Size 2025-2029

The e-book market size is forecast to increase by USD 14.52 billion, at a CAGR of 10.7% between 2024 and 2029.

Major Market Trends & Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for a 45% growth during the forecast period.
By the Product - Consumer e-book segment was valued at USD 7.86 billion in 2023
By the Platform - Smartphones segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2023

Market Size & Forecast

Market Opportunities: USD 163.63 billion
Market Future Opportunities: USD USD 14.52 billion 
CAGR : 10.7%
North America: Largest market in 2023

Market Summary

The market continues to evolve, with various formats gaining traction among publishers and readers. According to recent studies, the number of e-books sold has surpassed print books, representing a significant shift in consumer preferences. In 2020, e-books accounted for approximately 25% of all book sales, marking a noticeable increase from the previous year. Moreover, the market's dynamism extends to the diverse range of applications across industries. Education, business, and entertainment sectors have embraced e-books due to their convenience, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.
However, this growth trajectory comes with challenges, such as privacy concerns. Reports indicate that over 50% of e-book users have experienced privacy breaches, with unsecured downloads and unencrypted files being common vulnerabilities. Despite these challenges, the market's continuous evolution underscores its potential for further growth and innovation.

What will be the Size of the E-Book Market during the forecast period?

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The market exhibits a steady expansion, with current sales accounting for approximately 20% of the global publishing industry's revenue. This figure underscores the increasing preference for digital content among businesses and consumers alike. Looking ahead, industry experts project a 15% annual growth rate, indicating a significant expansion in the coming years. A comparison of sales trends reveals a noticeable shift towards e-books. In 2015, e-books represented 17% of total book sales, while in 2020, they accounted for 23% of the market.
This growth trajectory underscores the market's continuous evolution and the increasing importance of digital content in the publishing sector. Despite this growth, print books still maintain a substantial market share, accounting for around 77% of total book sales in 2020. However, the gap between e-books and print books is closing, highlighting the potential for further market disruption and growth in the digital publishing space.

How is this E-Book Industry segmented?

The e-book industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Product

  Consumer e-book
  Professional e-book
  Educational e-book


Platform

  Smartphones
  Tablet and laptops
  Desktops
  Smart TVs


Business Model

  Pay-per-download
  Subscription-based
  Freemium
  Lending/Borrowing


Genre

  Fiction
  Non-fiction
  Young Adult
  Comics/Graphic Novels


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Spain
    UK


  Middle East and Africa

    UAE


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Product Insights

The consumer e-book segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The market, a significant segment of digital content consumption, is experiencing notable growth driven by the increasing popularity of fiction books among readers. Approximately 60% of e-Book sales stem from fiction titles, with young adult literature accounting for a substantial portion of this demand. European countries, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium, generate a substantial portion of their e-Book revenues from fiction sales. Fiction books, categorized into literary and commercial genres, have seen a surge in demand due to evolving reading habits. The allure of compelling stories has made fiction a preferred choice for many individuals.

For instance, literary fiction offers insightful narratives and character development, while commercial fiction caters to popular trends and genres. Moreover, the adoption of technology and the convenience it offers have contributed to the growth of the market. For example, e-Books can be accessed instantly, and their portability makes them an ideal choice for avid readers. Additionally, e-Books offer features like adjustable font sizes, text-to-speech, and note-taking capabilities, enhancing the

The E-Book Market Report is Segmented by Revenue Model (Subscription, Pay-Per-Download, Freemium/Ad-supported, and Institutional Licensing), Genre (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education and Academic, Comics and Graphic Novels, and Professional and Technical), End-User (Individual Consumers, and Institutional), and Geography. The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

ebooks Market in the world is estimated to reach USD 29.9 billion by 2033, Riding on a Strong 5.1% CAGR throughout the forecast period.

A total of *** million e-books were sold in the United States in 2020, according to the most recently available data. E-book unit sales tend to fluctuate, although the sharp increase between 2019 and 2020 could be as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, which saw large increases in media consumption.

The eBook Sales Platform market has emerged as a vital segment within the digital publishing industry, providing authors, publishers, and readers with a streamlined and efficient way to buy and sell digital books. In recent years, the market has seen substantial growth, fueled by the increasing popularity of eBooks

Between 2010 and 2020, the compound annual growth rate of e-book revenue grew by just 13.3 percent in the United States. By contrast, the CAGR of e-book revenue in Germany climbed by 45.3 percent during the same time period.

This statistic presents the results of a survey on the reading habits of French people in 2023. The results of this study show that ** percent of respondents declared that they had not read a book in digital format.

The eBook Publishing Platform market has transformed significantly over the last decade, providing authors, publishers, and educational institutions with innovative solutions to create, distribute, and monetize digital content. As the demand for eBooks continues to rise, propelled by the increasing penetration of mo

The timeline presents data on e-book sales revenue generated in the United States from 2008 to 2013, as well as a forecast until 2018. The source expects the revenue will grow from **** billion in 2011 to **** billion in 2018.

E-book sales in the United States - additional information

An e-book, also known as an electronic or digital book, is a digitally released version of a book, often consisting of text and images and available on electronic devices, such as specifically designed e-book readers. The most well known e-book device is the Amazon Kindle, originally released in 2007. E-books can also be used on computers, tablets and even on smartphones, as this survey shows.

In the United States, the e-books industry has grown tremendously in the past decade, primarily due to a higher supply and demand of e-book devices and applications, but also due to lower prices compared to hard copies, as well as ease of travel and storage. However, forecasts suggest that the number of e-book users in the U.S. is expected to fall from ***** million in 2015 to ***** million in 2021.

Many e-books are available through American public libraries, which, since 2003, have an increasingly popular e-book lending model of both fiction and non-fiction titles for different audiences. However, despite the rise in e-book popularity, hard copy books were still the preferred choice for readers in 2015. Based on a survey, ** percent of all respondents claimed to read only hard copy books, while only **** percent of all respondents read only e-books. Unsurprisingly, the most prolific e-book readers are the Millennials (ages 18 to 29), which make up ** percent of all digital book readers.

Scope and limitations of library metrics for the assessment of ebook usage: COUNTER R5 and link resolver. Datasets(a) The CAMBRIDGE CORE EBOOKS 2019-2021 dataset includes data comparing the metrics of matched e-book titles between COUNTER R5 and the link resolver. The data was collected in January 2022 from the Library Discovery of Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain, covering the years 2019 to 2021.(b) The EBSCOhost EBOOKS 2019-2021 dataset includes data comparing the metrics of matched e-book titles between COUNTER R5 and the link resolver. The data was collected in January 2022 from the Library Discovery of Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain, covering the years 2019 to 2021. (c) The SCIENCEDIRECT EBOOKS 2019-2021 dataset includes data comparing the metrics of matched e-book titles between COUNTER R5 and the link resolver. The data was collected in January 2022 from the Library Discovery of Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain, covering the years 2019 to 2021.

Library digital circulation statistics including eBooks, eAudiobooks, Comics, Film and Online Magazines.

The global e-book management platform market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing popularity of e-books and the need for efficient organization and management of digital reading materials. The market, estimated at $2 billion in 2025, is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15% from 2025 to 2033, reaching a value exceeding $6 billion by 2033. This growth is fueled by several key factors: the rising adoption of e-readers and tablets, the increasing preference for digital content consumption among various demographics (corporate clients for training materials, private clients for personal reading), and the continuous development of sophisticated e-book management software offering advanced features like annotation, organization, and cross-platform synchronization. Furthermore, the growing number of e-books available across various platforms, alongside the increasing demand for efficient tools to manage large digital libraries, are significantly boosting market expansion. Segmentation reveals a strong demand across both corporate and private clients, with corporate clients utilizing these platforms for training materials and knowledge management initiatives. The software itself caters to a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring broad accessibility. North America currently holds the largest market share, driven by high e-reader penetration and technological advancements, but significant growth opportunities exist in rapidly developing economies across Asia-Pacific and other regions, as e-book consumption continues to rise globally. Restraints include the need for improved user interface design in certain applications and challenges associated with cross-platform compatibility for some less established software providers, along with potential security concerns regarding data privacy and management of digital rights.

The dataset shows the movements and actions (total registered users, accesses and consultations and use of digital content) that took place on the Emilia Digital Library (EMILIB) project portal. The digital library offering remote access to Italian and foreign newspapers, ebooks, audiobooks, music, videos, databases and more.Notes: - The fields of the empty cells indicate time periods not covered by the relevant digital service; - Year 2012: incoming PID services (ebook loans from other institutions) and outgoing PID services (ebook loans to other institutions) active for only 2 months;- Year 2021: Audiobook download service discontinued in March

The Large-scale International Study shows comparative availability and terms for a much larger sample of almost 100,000 books across those same five jurisdictions.

List of e-Books of Hong Kong Public Libraries (with links for online reading/download)

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Free Ebook Foundation Inc.

This statistic shows the median number of e-books held in academic library collections in the United States in 2016, by school type and acquisition model. In 2016, the median number of e-books held in undergraduate academic libraries in the U.S., who had independently purchased or licensed their e-books, was 31,666.